Both sides have accused each other of violating international law as they wait for a promised phone call from Donald Trump.
Renewed fighting between Thailand and Cambodia has entered its fourth day, with both sides accusing each other of violating international law as they await a promised phone call from US President Donald Trump.
Cambodia's Defense Ministry accused the Thai military of carrying out numerous attacks inside the country in the early hours of Thursday morning, including deploying tanks and artillery to attack targets in Pursat, Banteay Meanchey and Oddar Meanchey provinces.
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In one such attack, Cambodia accused Thai soldiers of violating international humanitarian law by shooting at civilians in the village of Prey Chan in Banteay Meanchey province.
In another, he accused Thai forces of shelling “the Khnar temple area” and said Thai forces had also “fired artillery and supporting fire into the O'Smach area.”
“Cambodia urges Thailand to immediately stop all hostile activities and withdraw its forces from the territorial integrity of Cambodia, and avoid acts of aggression that threaten peace and stability in the region,” the Defense Ministry said.
Clashes broke out Wednesday in more than a dozen locations along the disputed 817-kilometer (508-mile) Thai-Cambodian border demarcated during the colonial era, with some of the heaviest fighting reported since a five-day battle in July that killed dozens on both sides.
Cambodia's Interior Ministry said houses, schools, roads, Buddhist pagodas and ancient temples had been damaged by “Thailand's intense shelling and F-16 airstrikes against villages and civilian population centers up to 30 kilometers away.” [18.6 miles] within Cambodian territory.”
“It should be noted that… these brutal acts of aggression by the Thai military opened fire indiscriminately on civilian areas, especially schools, and further destroyed the temples of Ta Krabey and Preah Vihear, Cambodia's highly sacred cultural sites and world cultural heritage,” he said.
The ministry added that as of Wednesday, the death toll on the Cambodian side of the border stood at 10 civilians, including a baby, while 60 people had been injured.
Responding to the allegations, the Thai military said Cambodia had “intentionally” used a historical site as a “military operating base” and was therefore guilty of violating international law.
“Cambodia intentionally used the ancient site for military operations, as a base to attack Thailand, and deliberately undermined the protection of the ancient site. Thailand retaliated when necessary,” the Thai military said.
Eight Thai soldiers have also been killed in fighting so far this week, and 80 more have been wounded, he said.
Both sides have blamed each other for reigniting the conflict, which began on Monday and has spread to five provinces in Thailand and Cambodia, according to a tally by the AFP news agency.
More than 500,000 Thai and Cambodian civilians have been forced to flee border areas due to fighting.
It was not until October 26 that Trump presided over the signing of a ceasefire between the Southeast Asian neighbors in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Praising the deal, which was also negotiated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Trump said the mediators had done “something that a lot of people said couldn't be done.”
Optimistic about reaching another peace deal, Trump told reporters Wednesday that “I think I can get them to stop fighting.”
“I think I'm planning to talk to them tomorrow,” he added.
